New Ideas and Old Issues.

[S.A.cowboyfan]

Okay guys, here is a list of some things TSSS and I have discussed recently in order to provide members with the tools to get the most enjoyment possible out of their posting experience here. Some of it is old but some is also new so make sure to look it over.

It's a new year and time for some new things. Hey, change can always be fun and can make things interesting. Kind of like changing your furniture around and walking through the room in the dark. Anyways....

Out with the old, in with the new
For a long time, mock drafts and draft discussion have been limited to one thread, especially during the playing season. As of now, this will no longer be the case.

1. Mock Drafts
If you would like to create your own Dallas Cowboys mock draft thread, please make sure to make it a complete mock, using all rounds and picks the team has. Do not start more than one topic for this. You can edit your existing mock draft or make a new mock within that same thread.

If you want to post a complete mock draft (at least one round) including all teams, please do so in the mock draft forum.

2. College Football
Another change you will see is a thread we will be creating for discussion of players during college games, sort of a college game day discussion thread that will be started during the next college season. The purpose of this is to discuss prospects in college games that may fit well with the Dallas Cowboys.

Trolls
Two wrongs do not make a right. I know many of you might see someone make a post that insults you, the Cowboys, a player or anything else that we all care about and it gets your blood to boiling a bit. You want to insult and embarrass them and prove that you can insult just as well as them. The only thing you are really doing though is putting yourself in the same position as them. They are looking for reaction and you are giving them exactly what they want.

The best thing you can do is ignore them and let the moderators take care of it. I would even encourage you to send me, TSSS, or any other mod a PM to take care of it. Don't let people looking to cause trouble drag you down with them.

Creating New Threads
Before creating a new thread, please read the following guidelines so that we can avoid having repetitive threads. Having a lot of threads on the same topic only creates redundancy and clutters the forum:

1. Please read the Forum Directory, as it lists the threads which most people have an interest in. The Forum Directory has been updated:
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=91994&start=0

2. If you don't see a thread listed there of interest, then please take a minute of your time to scroll through the first page of the forum. Check to see if someone else has started a thread on the same topic and post in there.

These two small guidelines could save you and everyone else a lot of time. Your consideration is appreciated.


If You See a Duplicative Thread
We are well aware that there have been a lot of multiple, duplicative threads (a.k.a., re-threads) recently. If you see one, it is strongly advised that you do the following:

1. If you're the first person to see it, please just inform the person that there's already a thread on the topic and provide the link.

2. If you're not the first person to post, then just ignore it. By posting in the re-thread, you're only contributing to its survival. In other words, follow this cliché - Ignorance is bliss!

3. Please DO NOT write "IBL" or "In Before Lock" (or any other form or phrase that resembles IBL). Such posts add as much value to the forum as the re-thread (hence, IBL is a retread).

If you follow these guidelines, you will be doing us and the entire forum a huge favor. Again, we understand people's frustration.

Veterans vs New Members
We have a great group of veteran members here. For the most part, they are helpful and encouraging to newer members. There are many examples of vets helping new members or even new members coming in fitting like a glove. There are times however that the two groups clash.

Newer members don't always see how things have worked in the past and want to jump right in. Sometimes they post re-threads and at other times they do not understand that this board is meant for discussion, not flaming. There are many forums out there that members are not expected to respect one another. In turn, sometimes veteran members can be a bit harsh since they are so used to doing things a certain way, they forget what its like to be new. The newer member then gets defensive and an e-brawl ensues.

At times, I see veterans who are calling for a new member to be banned. At times this bothers me, TSSS and I often try to encourage new members to improve their posting. We are not out to get people banned, I would prefer to never have to do this. Remember, these are not just words on a screen but people. Rather than wanting to kick them out, why not break the pattern and try giving helpful suggestions instead?

As for the newer members, make sure to read and follow the forum rules. I can not stress enough how much this will help you, especially if you get frustrated. Remember that this is a message board, whether someone agrees with you or not, there is no reason to be insulted by the words or actions of others here. If someone argues your point, they are not insulting you, they want to talk to you. Use insightful opinions and reasoning and members will respect it. No one respects childish insults or comments and it only makes you look bad in the end.

Catchy name but what is it really?
It has come up, again and again. Some members want to start groups with catchy names and encourage others to be a part of it. Many times, though, while they may not have originally intended, it simply becomes a means of degrading posters who do not agree with them and using the rest of the group to pile on.

There are many ways to to influence the opinions of members including great arguments, well thought-out opinions, and stats but a collective organization should not be one of them. When this starts happening, post count drops significantly in the forum and members become agitated. No one wants to be a part of a forum when they feel like they are not part of the group and their opinions don't matter.

Different people may have different thoughts on how things can or should be done when it comes to the Cowboys but we all have the same interest and that is seeing the team win. Put what you like in your signature and avatar but these groups have no significant value to include in discussions. In the end, we are all Cowboys fans and that should be the only flag being flown in the forum.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, throughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting 'GERONIMO'!!!

[MightyMouse07]

Very good post S.A. I agree most of what you have said.
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R.I.P. Nikolas and Brian you will truly be missed.

“Anytime I step out there I give everything I got, on every single play.” - Ray Lewis

[Texas_OutLaw7]

So, SA, does this mean there will be no H.E.L.L. week for the noobs anymore? Kill Joy.

Nice Thread SA. I hope people take the time to read it.
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In Redball I Trust!
The price of progress is trusting the process.
Heart. Leadership. Passion. Will.

[S.A.cowboyfan]

[MaddHatter]

Does this mean my DCRA avatar needs to go?

Haha - Great Post - well needed... Glad to see it
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Ware Stat Tracker: 27 Pressures, 9 Hits, 10 sacks, 4 FF, 7 TFL (thru 8 games)

[S.A.cowboyfan]

[MaddHatter]

[acowboys62]

So wise S.A. so wise.

Good post, I know I have been guilty of some of these things, I shall watch it. This site has also got me typing with proper english! Well, sometimes.
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Bring swag back to Dallas 2012.

[PlayMaker88]

Once again, S.A. shows why he's a MVP.

Good post!!!
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Sig by BQS!!

It's been 4 years, can I call Robert J. Carpenter III a bust now?

[plan9misfit]

Not In Before Lock?
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Co-Founder: DCRA - No McQuistan, No Super Bowl

The_Slamman wrote:

It's like we are in a win now mentality with lose now personnel.

[S.A.cowboyfan]

[The_Slamman]

[GeorgiaBoy367]

keep a running talley in your signature
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[Texas_OutLaw7]

Ok, can we have a new rule in place? I think if your going to start a new thread, you should not be allowed to just leave a link. That drives me bonkers! If you feel something is worthy of having its own thread, then have some of your own insight. Thoughts, Feelings, what you had for lunch, I really don't care--but don't start a thread and JUST have a link!

Thank You, that is my rant for the day.
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In Redball I Trust!
The price of progress is trusting the process.
Heart. Leadership. Passion. Will.

[MaddHatter]